Reviews

The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor

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mdevlin923's review against another edition

3.0

Mei is a Chinese tween girl working in the kitchen at a Sierra Nevada logging camp with her father in the late 19th century. In addition to being a great pie baker, Mei is a talented storyteller...and shares stories about Auntie Po (a Chinese-female version of Paul Bunyan) who becomes real to her. Throughout the logging season, Mei and her family must deal with racism and discrimination, friends who struggle with being good allies, and the real dangers of working in the logging industry.

Very beautiful illustrations; but I couldn't really get into this story. I was very disappointed when the author mentioned in the author's notes that "many people were complicit in the erasure of Native Americans from their land" and then promptly did not include them in the story at all.

daumari's review against another edition

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5.0

A middle grade graphic novel featuring a queer Chinese girl cook in a logging camp, yes please- this has been on my radar for a while, and I'm so glad to have it in my hands. The watercolors are vivid, and Mei & Bee's friendship is so lovely. Though written for a middle-grade audience, it doesn't shy away from the tension and threat of violence Chinese in America faced in the Exclusion era (this takes place in 1885-6, so the early years but before people knew it was going to last for another 60 years).

I also really want pie now.

anacereading's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

alysonalyza's review against another edition

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3.0

The author's note made me cry and honestly I wanted more of that through the rest of this (though I know there is only so much you can do in a middle grade graphic novel). But I did learn a lot about the Chinese population working as lumberers in the 1800s, a topic I knew absolutely nothing about. Now I can't wait to do a deep dive on this topic.

bibliobrandie's review against another edition

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5.0

I really loved this graphic novel, which is part historical fiction, part magical realism, and part mythology. This is a beautifully crafted and illustrated coming-of-age story set in 1885. Following the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, 13-year old Chinese American Mei works alongside her father at a California logging camp. Mei tells stories of Auntie Po and her faithful blue buffalo, Pei Pei, and these legends help her through some tough times. This story touches on mythology and in her author's note Khor asks, who gets to tell and own myths? She also explains how she wanted to tell a story of a queer Chinese American. I feel like this is a fresh take on the historical graphic novel. Loved it!

trevoryan's review against another edition

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4.0

While I usually won't read a graphic novel if I don't love the art, this is a big exception. The story is so interesting and unique that I became engrossed and actually learned to appreciate the art more as I read.